U.S. patent application number 16/168508 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for drive system for vending machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nidec Motor Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Nidec Motor Corporation. Invention is credited to Eric Hancock, Stoyan Staev, Paul Vanaria.
Application Number | 20190122479 16/168508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66169397 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190122479 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Staev; Stoyan ; et
al. |
April 25, 2019 |
DRIVE SYSTEM FOR VENDING MACHINE
Abstract
A drive system for a vending or other dispensing machine
includes an electronic switch and an electric motor configured to
actuate dispensing coils or other dispensing technologies to
dispense instances of products. The drive system minimizes the risk
of sparking and igniting propane or other volatile refrigerants or
other volatile chemicals or materials used in or near the machine.
The electronic switch may be a Hall effect switch, and the electric
motor may be a brushless DC electric motor. A homing circuit (e.g.,
Fawn-type or AMS-type) is connected to the drive system to
control/monitor actuation of the dispensing mechanism. A wiring
harness connects the electronic switch to the electric motor, and
may include a connector which can be set to allow the electric
motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise
direction.
Inventors: |
Staev; Stoyan; (Lombard,
IL) ; Hancock; Eric; (Huntley, IL) ; Vanaria;
Paul; (Carol Stream, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nidec Motor Corporation |
St. Louis |
MO |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Nidec Motor Corporation
St. Louis
MO
|
Family ID: |
66169397 |
Appl. No.: |
16/168508 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62575865 |
Oct 23, 2017 |
|
|
|
62699509 |
Jul 17, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01B 7/0045 20130101;
G07F 17/0071 20130101; H03K 17/90 20130101; G07F 11/42 20130101;
G07F 11/60 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G07F 11/42 20060101
G07F011/42; G07F 17/00 20060101 G07F017/00; G07F 11/60 20060101
G07F011/60; H03K 17/90 20060101 H03K017/90; H01B 7/00 20060101
H01B007/00 |
Claims
1. A drive system for a dispensing machine containing an instance
of an item, the drive system comprising: an item dispenser
rotatable at least in part to advance and release the instance of
the item; an electric motor mechanically connected to the item
dispenser; and an electronic switch configured to cause the
electric motor to impart rotation to the item dispenser in response
to a control signal, thereby releasing the instance of the item,
wherein the electronic switch does not create an electrical spark
when operating.
2. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the electronic switch is a
Hall effect switch.
3. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a
brushless direct current electric motor.
4. The drive system of claim 1, further including a wiring harness
electrically connecting the electronic switch to the electric
motor, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector component
which is selectively configurable to allow the electric motor to
operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise
direction.
5. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the item dispenser
comprises a rotatable dispensing coil configured to receive and
retain the instance of the item and, upon being rotated, advance
and release the instance of the item.
6. A vending machine containing an instance of a product, the
vending machine including-- a homing circuit, and a refrigeration
system configured to cool the instance of the product, wherein the
refrigeration system uses propane; and a drive system comprising: a
dispensing coil configured to receive and retain the instance of
the product, and to rotate to advance and release the instance of
the product, wherein the homing circuit is configured to control
rotation of the dispensing coil, a brushless direct current
electric motor mechanically connected to the dispensing coil, and
an electronic Hall effect switch configured to cause the brushless
direct current electric motor to rotate the dispensing coil in
response to a control signal from the homing circuit, thereby
releasing the instance of the product, wherein neither the
electronic Hall effect switch nor the brushless direct current
electric motor creates a spark which could ignite the propane.
7. The vending machine of claim 6, further including a wiring
harness electrically connecting the electronic Hall effect switch
to the brushless direct current electric motor, wherein the wiring
harness includes a connector component which is selectively
configurable to allow the brushless direct current electric motor
to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise
direction.
8. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein the homing circuit is a
Fawn-type homing circuit which senses an interruption of electrical
current associated with operation of the electronic switch.
9. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein the homing circuit is an
AMS-type homing circuit which senses a high frequency modulated
signal over a current sensing resistor associated with operation of
the electronic switch.
10. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein the homing circuit
senses a power supply voltage over an additional wire to the
electric motor and associated with operation of the electronic
switch.
11. A vending machine containing an instance of a product, the
vending machine comprising: a drive system including-- an item
dispenser rotatable at least in part to advance and release the
instance of the product; an electric motor mechanically connected
to the item dispenser; and an electronic switch configured to cause
the electric motor to impart rotation to the item dispenser in
response to a control signal, thereby releasing the instance of the
product, wherein the electronic switch does not create an
electrical spark when opening or closing.
12. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein the electronic switch
is a Hall effect switch.
13. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein the electric motor is
a brushless direct current electric motor.
14. The vending machine of claim 11, further including a homing
circuit electrically connected with the drive system and configured
to control rotation of the item dispenser.
15. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein the homing circuit is
a Fawn-type homing circuit which senses an interruption of
electrical current associated with opening and closing the
electronic switch.
16. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein the homing circuit is
an AMS-type homing circuit which senses a high frequency modulated
signal over a current sensing resistor associated with opening and
closing the electronic switch.
17. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein the homing circuit
senses a power supply voltage over an additional wire connected to
the electric motor and associated with opening and closing the
electronic switch.
18. The vending machine of claim 11, further including a wiring
harness electrically connecting the electronic switch to the
electric motor, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector
component which is selectively configurable to allow the electric
motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise
direction.
19. The vending machine of claim 11, further including a
refrigeration system configured to cool the instance of the
product, wherein the refrigeration system uses propane.
20. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein the item dispenser
comprises a rotatable dispensing coil configured to receive and
retain the instance of the item and, upon being rotated, advance
and release the instance of the item.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present U.S. non-provisional patent application is
related to and claims priority benefit of a first prior-filed U.S.
provisional patent application titled "Brushless Motor and Switch
for Vending Machine," Ser. No. 62/575,865, filed Oct. 23, 2017, and
a second prior-filed U.S. provisional patent application titled
"Brushless Motor and Switch for Vending Machine," Ser. No.
62/699,509, filed Jul. 17, 2018. The entire contents of the
identified prior-filed applications are incorporated by reference
into the present application as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to vending and other
dispensing machine technology, and more particularly, embodiments
concern a drive system for a vending or other dispensing machine,
the drive system including an electronic switch and a brushless
motor configured to actuate dispensing coils or similar dispensing
technologies, wherein the drive system minimizes the risk of
sparking and igniting propane or other refrigerants or other
volatile chemicals used in or near the machine.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In many prior art vending machines, instances of products
are received and retained within dispensing coils and released when
the dispensing coils are rotated. Some vending machines use a brush
direct current (DC) electric motor and an electro-mechanical switch
to drive the dispensing coils. When activated, the switch closes
and the brush DC motor rotates a particular dispensing coil, which
causes an instance of a selected product to be dispensed and
delivered to a user. Typically, vending machines may incorporate
circuits, such as Fawn-type circuits or AMS-type circuits, for
controlling this dispensing operation.
[0004] Some vending machines use a refrigerant coolant, such as
R-134a, to cool the instances of the products stored in the
dispensing coils. However, government regulations may limit or
eliminate the use of such refrigerants in vending machines, and the
vending machine industry may switch to using propane as a
refrigerant in their compressors. Propane is volatile, and the
brush DC motor and/or the electro-mechanical switch may create an
electrical spark when operated, which could ignite any propane that
has escaped from the refrigeration system. Incorporating a housing
to cover an existing brush DC motor and/or the electro-mechanical
switch can increase cost and complexity. Further, an additional
housing cover may result in additional "explosion-proof"
certification requirements, such as UL certification, which can
increase cost and development timelines. Other disadvantages of the
housing cover could include required certification of the seal,
degradation of the seal over time, increased cost, and risk of
failure of the seal at any point.
[0005] This background discussion is intended to provide
information related to the present invention which is not
necessarily prior art.
SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments address the above-described and other problems
by providing a drive system for a vending or other dispensing
machine, the drive system including an electronic switch and a
brushless DC electric motor configured to actuate dispensing coils
or other dispensing technologies, wherein the drive system
minimizes the risk of sparking and igniting propane or other
volatile refrigerants or other volatile chemicals used in or near
the machine.
[0007] In a first embodiment of the present invention, a drive
system is provided for a dispensing machine containing an instance
of an item. The drive system may include an item dispenser and an
electronic switch. The item dispenser is rotatable at least in part
to advance and release the instance of the item. The electronic
switch may be configured to cause an electric motor to impart
rotation to the item dispenser in response to a control signal,
thereby releasing the instance of the item, wherein the electronic
switch does not create an electrical spark when operating.
[0008] In a second embodiment of the present invention, a vending
machine is provided containing an instance of a product and
including a drive system. The drive system may include a dispensing
coil and an electronic switch. The dispensing coil may be
configured to receive and retain the instance of the product, and
to rotate to advance and release the instance of the product. The
electronic switch may be configured to cause an electric motor to
rotate the dispensing coil in response to a control signal, thereby
releasing the instance of the product, wherein the electronic
switch does not create an electrical spark when opening or
closing.
[0009] Various implementations of the foregoing embodiments may
include any one or more of the following additional features. The
electronic switch may be a Hall effect switch, and/or the electric
motor may be a brushless DC electric motor. The vending or other
dispensing machine may include a homing circuit electrically
connected to the drive system and configured to monitor rotation of
the dispensing coil or other mechanism. The homing circuit may be a
Fawn-type homing circuit which senses an interruption of electrical
current associated with opening and closing the electronic switch.
The homing circuit may be an AMS-type homing circuit which senses a
high frequency modulated signal over a current sensing resistor
associated with opening and closing the electronic switch. The
homing circuit may sense a power supply voltage over an additional
wire to the electric motor and associated with opening and closing
the electronic switch. The drive system may include a wiring
harness electrically connecting the electronic switch to the
electric motor, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector
component which is selectively configurable to allow the electric
motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise
direction. The vending or other dispensing machine may include a
refrigeration system configured to cool the instance of the product
or other item, wherein the refrigeration system uses propane.
[0010] This summary is not intended to identify essential features
of the present invention, and is not intended to be used to limit
the scope of the claims. These and other aspects of the present
invention are described below in greater detail.
DRAWINGS
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail
below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an example vending
machine.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a drive
system, including an electric motor and a switch, which may be
incorporated into the example vending machine of FIG. 1 to drive a
dispensing coil.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a circuit schematic of a typical Fawn-type
circuit;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a circuit schematic of a typical AMS-type
circuit;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drive
system including an electronic switch and/or a brushless DC
electric motor;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a circuit schematic of a first implementation of
the drive system of FIG. 5 connected to an implementation of the
AMS-type circuit of FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a printed circuit board assembly schematic of a
first implementation of aspects of the drive system of FIG. 6;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a printed circuit board schematic of a second
implementation of aspects of the drive system of FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a harness wiring schematic for the second
implementation of the drive system of FIG. 8;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a circuit schematic of a third implementation of
aspects of the drive system of FIG. 5; and
[0022] FIG. 11 is a harness wiring schematic for the third
implementation of the drive system of FIG. 10.
[0023] The figures are not intended to limit the present invention
to the specific embodiments they depict. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following detailed description of embodiments of the
invention references the accompanying figures. The embodiments are
intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail
to enable those with ordinary skill in the art to practice the
invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be
made without departing from the scope of the claims. The following
description is, therefore, not limiting. The scope of the present
invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the
full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
[0025] In this description, references to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," or "embodiments" mean that the feature or features
referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the
invention. Separate references to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," or "embodiments" in this description do not
necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are not mutually
exclusive unless so stated. Specifically, a feature, component,
action, step, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included
in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus,
particular implementations of the present invention can include a
variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments
described herein.
[0026] Broadly characterized, embodiments provide a drive system
for a vending or other dispensing machine, the drive system
including an electronic switch and a brushless DC electric motor
configured to actuate dispensing coils or other dispensing
technologies, wherein the drive system minimizes the risk of
sparking and igniting propane or other volatile refrigerants or
other volatile chemicals used in or near the machine. Embodiments
of the drive system may be configured to be efficiently,
conveniently, and economically incorporated into existing and new
vending machines.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, an example dispensing machine 20 is
shown which may incorporate the drive system of the present
invention. The illustrated dispensing machine 20 is particularly
configured for containing and dispensing one or more instances 22
of one or more products or other items 24, and may include a
refrigeration system 26 to cool the instances 22 of the products
24. The refrigeration system 26 may use propane or another volatile
refrigerant, or the vending machine 20 may be located near volatile
chemicals or materials. Referring to FIG. 2, an example drive
system 30 is shown including an electric motor 32 and a switch 34
which may be incorporated into the vending machine 20 to drive one
or more item dispensers 36 for dispensing the instances 22 of the
products 24. FIGS. 3 and 4 are circuit schematics of, respectively,
a prior art Fawn-type control/monitor circuit 40 connected to a
drive system including an electro-mechanical switch 42 and a brush
DC electric motor 44, and a prior art AMS-type control/monitor
circuit 46 connected to a drive system including an
electro-mechanical switch 48 and a brush motor 50.
[0028] The illustrated item dispensers 36 are most preferably
rotatable dispensing coils configured to receive and retain
instances of products and dispense product when rotated, although
the vending machine 20 may be provided with an alternative or
additional item dispenser(s) without departing from certain aspects
of the present invention. It will be appreciated that various
dispensing technologies are entirely or at least partly rotatable
when dispensing product, with rotation being imparted by the motor
44. For example, the machine 20 might alternatively or additionally
include a conveyor, lift, and/or robotic arm (each of which is
rotatable or includes a rotatable portion) used to dispense
product.
[0029] The term "homing" refers to the manner in which a homing
circuit controls and/or monitors one rotation, or vend, of the item
dispenser 36. A first common way of homing is to sense an
interruption of electrical current to the power supply. This is
often implemented in the Fawn-type circuit 40, shown in FIG. 3. In
brief, a power supply line is interrupted by the contacts of the
mechanical switch 42, which is activated by an output gear cam,
during travel time between a normally closed (NC) contact and a
normally open (NO) contact. A second common way of homing is to
sense a high frequency modulated power supply signal over a current
sensing resistor. This is often implemented in the AMS-type circuit
46, shown in FIG. 4. In brief, a five (5) volt (V), alternating
current (AC), ninety (90) kiloHertz (kHz) signal is connected to
the twenty four (24) VDC power supply. The electro-mechanical
switch 48, which is activated by the output gear cam, connects in
parallel to the motor 50 which makes the high frequency modulated
signal visible over the current sensing resistor 52. A third common
way of homing is to sense a power supply voltage over a third wire.
The electro-mechanical switch, activated by the output gear cam,
provides the supply voltage to the third wire. Thus, the first and
second homing technologies require only two wires going to the
motor, while the third homing technology requires three wires.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5 an embodiment of a drive system 60 is
shown which may be incorporated into the vending machine 20. The
drive system 60 may include an electronic switch 62, such as a Hall
effect switch, or Hall switch, and/or a brushless DC motor 64. In
various implementations, the drive system 60 may include only the
electronic switch 62 (and a brush motor), only the brushless motor
64 (and an electro-mechanical switch), or both the electronic
switch 62 and the brushless motor 64. As stated, the drive system
60 may be configured for incorporation into new or existing vending
machines, such as the vending machine 20 of FIG. 1, and as desired,
to connect to implementations of the Fawn-type and/or AMS-type
circuits 40,46 of FIGS. 3 and 4. In particular, use of the
electronic switch 62 in place of an electro-mechanical switch
and/or the brushless motor 64 in place of a brush motor minimizes
or eliminates the risk of sparks which might otherwise ignite
escaped propane or other volatile gases, fluids, chemicals, or
materials.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a first implementation of the
drive system 60A is shown connected with an implementation of the
AMS-type circuit 46A of the second homing technology. A diode 70
may be inserted into the power supply line to protect against
certain fault conditions which may be encountered in vending
machines. A wiring harness 72A may connect the electronic switch 62
to the motor 64. The wiring harness 72A may carry substantially any
relevant signals to and/or from the motor 64, such as a direction
signal to the motor 64, a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal to the
motor 64, a power supply signal to the motor 64, and a ground
connection to the motor 64. To facilitate connection of the drive
system 60A to existing or other circuitry 46A, an electrical
connector 74 may be provided for connecting to a complementary
electrical connector 76 on the existing or other circuitry 46A. In
FIGS. 8-11, alternative implementations of the drive system 60B,
60C are shown, particularly the electronic switch 62 and the
associated wiring harnesses 72B, 72C to the motor 64.
[0032] In each of these implementations 60A, 60B, 60C, the
electronic switch 62 may be a Hall effect switch configured to
function like a typical electro-mechanical switch. Further, each of
these implementations may be configured, with the addition of an
inductor 74 (seen in FIG. 6), to work with the brushless motor 64
or to work with a brush motor. The brushless motor 64 may be
configured to perform the same functions as the prior art two-wire
brush motor. A customer-configurable connector, which may be part
of the wiring harness 72A, 72B, 72C, may be provided in any of the
implementations 60A, 60B, 60C to allow the motor 64 to operate
clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW), thereby conveniently
allowing the customer to stock only one part number for both
clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW) applications. This option
is particularly relevant for use with the third homing
technology.
[0033] Although described herein for the purpose of illustration as
being adapted for use in the example context of product vending
machines using volatile refrigerants, it will be appreciated that
the drive system of the present invention may be adapted for use
with substantially any technology and in substantially any context
which might benefit from the advantages provided by the drive
system. For example, embodiments of the drive system may be adapted
for use in vending machines that do not themselves use but that
operate in proximity to volatile chemicals or materials, and/or
embodiments may be adapted for use in machines that dispense
components or materials to workers in industrial contexts. Although
the invention has been described with reference to the one or more
embodiments illustrated in the figures, it is understood that
equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without
departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the
claims.
[0034] Having thus described one or more embodiments of the
invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by
Letters Patent includes the following:
* * * * *